Ramps for Modular Buildings – Planning Your Ramp Configuration Call (513) 889-2492 ORDER NOW Tracy Mikulec Tracy Mikulec, a seasoned leader in the digital marketing realm, currently serves as the Director of Digital at SixAxis, a pioneering manufacturer of industrial and commercial safety products from renowned brands like SafeRack, ErectaStep, and Upside. With a career spanning over three decades, Tracy has been at the forefront of digital innovation, ecommerce, and technology strategy. Since January 2015, Tracy has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape at SixAxis, LLC, based in Andrews, South Carolina. His role involves leading digital strategies and overseeing technological advancements for SixAxis and its diverse portfolio of brands. Dec 19, 2019 Estimated reading time: 4 minutes You must consider many factors if you plan to install a modular building ramp because every site is different. Follow this guide so that you take the necessary site measurements. step-1 Why does my ramp have to be a specific length? The ramp must comply with ADA regulations if it is going to be used by the public. ADA regulations require a 1:12 slope which guarantees that the ramp will not be too steep for someone in a wheelchair to use. It also requires a landing area at both the top and bottom of the ramp, which must be at least 60” x 60”. If there is no existing landing platform at the threshold, then you will need a platform that connects the door threshold to the top of the ramp. How wide does my ramp need to be? Most standard ADA products have 48″ clearance between the handrails. This specification covers ADA and IBC 2009 compliance across the United States. The outer edge to outer edge of the ramp is close to 60″, but there ends up being only 48″ between the handrails after taking the handrail material, the standoff between the handrail and the guardrail, and the guardrail thickness into consideration. step-2 Why do the width and length of the building matter? If you need to have a switchback ramp, but there is no room for it to switch back in front of the building, you may have to wrap it around the side of the building. Knowing the length and width will help you determine the best layout for the ramp. Why is the door swing important? If the door’s hinge is on the right, then the ramp has to move to the left (from the birds-eye or front view) so that the door does not block the ramp when it is opened. The same concept applies to a door with a hinge on the left. If you need the ramp to go in the opposite direction than the door allows, additional platforms are needed. Double doors and recessed doors also require additional platforms to have an adequate turning radius for a wheelchair. step-3 step-4 Why is the slope of the ground important? If the ground is sloping down, you can use our slope calculator to determine whether additional ramp sections might be required in order to maintain a 1:12 ratio. If the ground is sloping up, fewer ramp sections may be required. View the in-depth guide on how to measure sloping ground. step-5 Why do I need multiple platforms? To be compliant with ADA regulations, you need a 60″ x 60″ resting platform for every additional 30 feet of ramp. This means that if your door is more than 30″ above the ground, you will need at least a 30-foot ramp and a resting platform that will add an additional 60 inches to the ramp length. Here are some benefits of modular aluminum ramps. step-6 Is one configuration better than the others? No. Choose the configuration that best suits your site, given any barriers that might be there and the allotted space you have. If you have limited space on the sides of the building, a switchback ramp would probably be best, but if there is a tree that would prevent the ramp from switching back, an “L” ramp or straight ramp would be better. You might also need to check if you need adjustable steps for your modular office. What if there are obstacles in the way, but I can’t avoid them? Sometimes it is easier to relocate or remove an obstacle instead of trying to configure a wheelchair ramp around it. If relocating or removing it is not possible, then you may need to use a larger platform to push the ramp past the obstacle, adjust the layout, or use a custom access system to avoid it. After preparing the site, contact a ramp manufacturer for a quote. Upside Innovations manufactures modular-style aluminum ramps and installs them nationwide. Aluminum is the most durable commercial-style ramp that requires minimal maintenance and can typically be assembled in a matter of hours. Get a Quote Here More resources: ADAAG Standards What is a modular wheelchair ramp? ADARampsTools & Resources How to Measure Wheelchair Ramp Ground Slope Read More » December 19, 2019 Ramps Wood vs. Aluminum Ramps Read More » February 5, 2024
Alternative to Precast Concrete Wheelchair Ramps Call (513) 889-2492 ORDER NOW Tracy Mikulec Tracy Mikulec, a seasoned leader in the digital marketing realm, currently serves as the Director of Digital at SixAxis, a pioneering manufacturer of industrial and commercial safety products from renowned brands like SafeRack, ErectaStep, and Upside. With a career spanning over three decades, Tracy has been at the forefront of digital innovation, ecommerce, and technology strategy. Since January 2015, Tracy has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape at SixAxis, LLC, based in Andrews, South Carolina. His role involves leading digital strategies and overseeing technological advancements for SixAxis and its diverse portfolio of brands. Oct 31, 2017 Estimated reading time: 3 minutes Precast concrete wheelchair ramps are commonly used because they are quicker to install than cast-in-place concrete ramps. While precast concrete can be a good choice for certain applications, it has drawbacks that could be avoided by using aluminum. A few of the drawbacks of precast concrete ramps are as follows: Site measurements must EXACT. Precast concrete wheelchair ramps are poured into the mold off-site and then transported to the construction site, so the site measurements need to be exact. Taking perfect measurements doesn’t sound difficult, but construction sites often experience obstacles, and door threshold heights can change unexpectedly. That means that if the measurements for the ramp were taken before the door threshold height changed, the measurements would be wrong, and the ramp would no longer fit the application. Installation requires rental equipment. Precast concrete wheelchair ramps have a shorter installation time than cast-in-place ramps, but precast concrete structures weigh about 150 lbs. per cubic foot which means that special equipment is required to move the sections. Concrete is prone to cracks. Concrete’s tensile strength is relatively low compared to other materials, which means it is susceptible to cracks. Common types of cracks are settlement cracks and shrinkage cracks. Settlement cracks occur when the building and the wheelchair ramp drop below their original placement height. Shrinkage cracks develop when the concrete is restrained as it dries and shrinks. If the precast for the ramp constrains it while it’s drying, then it is more likely to crack. The best alternative material to precast concrete is aluminum. Why? Installation flexibility. Aluminum wheelchair ramps are built offsite, which means that height measurements are needed to begin production. However, there is a range of installation flexibility with aluminum; the aluminum platform legs typically have about 4 inches of adjustability in case the threshold height ends up being a little different than the original measurements. No special equipment for installation. Because aluminum is lightweight, a wheelchair ramp can usually be installed by hand within a day; no heavy installation equipment is required to install the product. High corrosion resistance. Aluminum has a high tensile strength which means that it won’t crack. It also will never rust or warp. Concrete, along with every other ramp material, experiences at least one of these types of corrosion. While aluminum may be a little more expensive initially, it will remain intact for longer. As you can see in the photo above, there is a set of precast concrete steps next to an aluminum wheelchair ramp. The steps have cracks and rust from the handrails while the aluminum is still in good condition. It might be worth it to consider aluminum for more permanent ramp applications. Related Articles: How to Measure for a Wheelchair Ramp Ramps 6 Benefits of Modular Aluminum Wheelchair Ramps Read More » February 9, 2024 Ramps Wood vs. Aluminum Ramps Read More » February 5, 2024
